L.R.O.1/2012LAWSOFGUYANA L.R.O. 1/2012
LAWS OF GUYANA
MUSIC AND DANCING LICENCES ACT
CHAPTER 23:03
Act 21 of 1907
Amended by 12 of 1982
1 of 2013
Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised (inclusive) by L.R.O.
1 – 10 ... 1/2012
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Index of
Subsidiary Legislation
This Chapter contains no subsidiary legislation.
Note on
Subsidiary Legislation
Music and Dancing Licenses (Fees) Regulations No. 9/1982 has been omitted from this publication.
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CHAPTER 23:03
MUSIC AND DANCING LICENCES ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Licensing of premises for public entertainment. 4. Grant of licences. 5. Transfer of licences. 6. Notice of application for licence. 7. Unlicensed premises used for public dancing deemed a disorderly
house. 8. Notice to be affixed to premises. 9. Hours of opening. 10. Conditions of licence. 11. Breach of condition. 12. Notice not necessary for a renewal. 13. Temporary licence. 14. Licences not to be granted unless certificates of safety are
produced. 15. Revocation and suspension of licences. 16. Fees. 17. Notice to be given of entertainment. 18. Power of police to enter.
SCHEDULE—Form of licence.
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1929 Ed. c. 10 1953 Ed. c. 129
CHAPTER 23:03 MUSIC AND DANCING LICENCES ACT
21 of 1907 An Act to provide for Music and Dancing Licences.
[7TH SEPTEMBER, 1907] Short title.
Interpretation.
Licensing of premises for public entertainment. [6 of 1997 1 of 2013]
Schedule.
Grant of licences.
1. This Act may be cited as the Music and Dancing Licences Act.
2. In this Act—
“place” means house, room, garden, or other place.
3. (1) A place, whether licensed or not for the sale of wine, spirits, beer, or other fermented or distilled liquors, shall not be kept or used for public dancing, singing, music, or other public entertainment of the like kind, without a licence for the purpose or purposes for which it is to be used being first obtained from the magistrate of the district in which it is situate.
(2) For the registration thereof a fee of two thousand five hundred dollars shall be paid by the person applying for the licence, and the licence may be in the form in the Schedule with any variations the circumstances require.
4. The magistrate may grant licences to any persons he thinks fit to keep or use places for all or any of the purposes aforesaid upon such terms and conditions, and subject to such restrictions as he by the respective licences determines, and every licence shall be in force for one year or for any shorter period which the magistrate on the grant of the licence determines, unless it has been previously revoked as hereinafter provided.
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Transfer of licences.
Notice of application for licence.
Unlicensed premises used for public dancing deemed a disorderly house. [6 of 1997 1 of 2013]
Notice to be affixed to premises.
Hours of opening. [34 of 1952]
5. The magistrate may from time to time transfer a licence to anyone whom he thinks fit.
6. (1) Everyone shall in each case give fourteen days’ notice to the clerk to the magistrate and to the chief officer of police of the police district in which the place is situate, of his intention to apply for a licence or for the transfer of a licence.
(2) Everyone shall, in addition to the notice aforesaid, advertise in at least one daily newspaper of Guyana, on not less than four occasions during the period of fourteen days, notice of his intention to apply for a licence, or for the transfer of a licence and in addition to the notice and advertisement aforesaid, also affix one copy of the notice on the outside and another on the inside of the outer front door or chief entrance of the place, and keep the notice so affixed until the grant or refusal of the application.
7. A place kept or used for any of the purposes aforesaid without a licence first obtained shall be deemed a disorderly house, and the occupier or the person rated as occupier thereof shall be liable to a fine of ten thousand dollars for every day on which it is kept or used for any of the purposes last aforesaid.
8. There shall be affixed and kept up in some conspicuous position on the door or entrance of every place so kept or used and so licensed as a f o r e s a i d a n i n s c r i p t i o n in l a r g e c a p i t a l l e t t e r s i n t h e w o r d s following: “Licensed in pursuance of the Music and Dancing Licences Act for” with the addition of words showing the purpose or purposes for which the place is licensed.
9. A place, so kept or used, although so licensed as aforesaid, shall not be opened for any of the purposes aforesaid except on the days and between the hours stated in the licence:
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Provided that the holder of a first class hotel licence may keep open the licensed premises for the purpose of public dancing, singing, music or other public entertainment once in every week until the hour of two of the clock in the morning except on any Sunday.
Conditions of licence.
Breach of condition. [6 of 1997 1 of 2013]
Notice not necessary for a renewal.
Temporary licence. [35 of 1951]
Licences not to be granted unless certificate s of safety are produced.
[35 of 1951 17 of 1969
10. The affixing and keeping up of the inscription aforesaid, and the observance of the days and hours of opening and closing, shall be inserted in and made a condition of every licence.
11. In case of breach or disregard of any of the terms or conditions upon or subject to which the licence was granted, the holder thereof shall be liable to a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars and to a daily fine of ten thousand dollars, and the licence shall be liable to be revoked by the order of the magistrate.
12. No notice shall be given under section 6 when the application is for a renewal of an existing licence held by the applicant for the same premises.
13. The magistrate, if and as he thinks fit, may grant to anyone applying for it, a licence to keep or use a place for any of the purposes specified in section 3 for any period not exceeding fourteen days (which he shall specify in the licence) notwithstanding that no notices have been given under section 6.
14. (1) No licence under this Act shall be granted in respect of any place unless there is produced to the magistrate—
(a) a certificate from the Chief Fire Officer that, in respect of such place, he is satisfied that there is adequate
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provision as to means of escape in the event of fire, and to precautions against fire and in the interests of general safety; and
(b) a certificate from the Chief Buildings Officer, or, where such place is situate within the City of Georgetown, a certificate from the City Engineer, that such place is fit for use for any of the purposes specified in section 3.
(2) In this section—
“the City Engineer” includes the Assistant City Engineer;
“the Chief Buildings Officer” includes any fit and proper person authorised in writing by the Chief Buildings Officer to examine places and issue certificates for the purposes of this section; and
“the Chief Fire Officer” includes any fit and proper person authorised by the Chief Fire Officer to examine places and issue certificates for the purposes of this section.
Revocation and suspension of licences. [35 of 1951 12 of 1982]
Fees. [12 of 1982]
15. (1) The Chief Fire Officer, the City Engineer or the Chief Buildings Officer may at any reasonable time enter and inspect any place licensed under this Act.
(2) Where upon any inspection as aforesaid, the Chief Fire Officer, the City Engineer or the Chief Buildings Officer, as the case may be, is of the opinion that the place is unfit for use for any of the purposes specified in section 3, he shall forthwith report the matter to the magistrate who shall forthwith revoke or suspend the licence upon such terms as he may think fit.
16. The Minister responsible for finance may prescribe
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fees to be paid in respect of any inspection made or certificate issued under section 14(1).
Notice to be given of entertainment. [17 of 1969 6 of 1997 1 of 2013]
Power of police to enter.
17. Everyone to whom a licence is granted under this Act shall give twenty-four hours’ notice, at the police station nearest to the place licensed, of every dancing, singing, music, or other public entertainment to be held therein, and in default thereof he shall be liable to a fine of ten thousand dollars.
18. Any police constable may at all reasonable times enter any place licensed under this Act.
s. 3 [1 of 2013]
SCHEDULE FORM
OF LICENCE
THE MUSIC AND DANCING LICENCES
A licence is hereby granted to (1) (1) Insert the name of person to whom licence is granted.
to keep and use a (2) (2) Describe nature of premises to be licensed.
situate at (3) (3) Describe where the premises are situate.
in (4) (4) Insert name of town, village or district where premises are situate.
for the purpose of (5) (5) Insert purpose
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for which premises are licensed.
for (6) (6) Insert time for which licence is granted, one year, or as the case may be.
from the date hereof, upon the following terms and conditions and subject to the following restrictions: 1. The premises hereby licenced shall be opened for the purposes for which this licence is granted upon (7)
(7) Insert day or days upon which premises may be opened.
Only and between the hours of (8)
(8) Insert hours between which premises may be opened.
2. There shall be affixed and kept up in some conspicuous place on the door or entrance of the premises hereby licensed in large capital letters the following inscription: “Licensed in pursuance of the Music and Dancing Licences Act for (9)”
(9) Insert purpose for which premises are licensed.
3. (10) (10) Here insert other conditions and restrictions upon which the licence is granted.
Dated this day of ,20 , at
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Magistrate.
The following notice shall be printed on the back of the licence:
Notice—Any breach or disregard of any of the above terms and conditions will render the holder of this licence liable to a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars and to a daily fine of ten thousand dollars, and to revocation of this licence.
The holder of this licence must give twenty-four hours’ notice at the police station nearest to the premises hereby licensed of any dancing, singing, music or other public entertainment to be held in those premises and in default of so doing will be liable to a fine of ten thousand dollars.